Back from holiday, so apologies for the intermittent posts and lack of response to comments. Pleased to see in recent Times Educational Supplement (TES) that the Government is finally telling schools to pay support staff “fair” wages and stop them being used to teach lessons they are not qualified to take.The abuse and latent discrimination of overwhelmingly female classroom assistants by many schools and local education authorities is a national disgrace.
Unlike this report from The Times – fully qualified teacher assistants (with a two year diploma) can start on as little as £9,500 per year (not £15,000). Surprise, surprise very few men can afford to become assistants and schools rely on women who are desperate for jobs that fit in with their care commitments.
Check out the UNISON argument on BBC news
This is of course “guidance” so when schools inevitably ignore this (as they have to date all previous guidance), the Government will "of course" move in and legislate (please do so Gordon).
